Influenza and colds are common illnesses that can be confused because they share many symptoms. However, there are some differences between the two conditions.
How do you tell the difference between the flu and a cold?
Generally, flu symptoms, which are divided into general and respiratory symptoms, appear suddenly.
General flu symptoms:
- Fever
- General malaise
- Headache
- Muscle pain
Respiratory symptoms of the flu:
- Cough
- Sore throat
In addition to other symptoms that may appear such as vomiting, diarrhea and sneezing.
On the other hand, cold symptoms appear more progressively.
Cold symptoms:
- Mucus
- Dry cough
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Mild fever
Flu and Colds in Children
The flu usually makes children feel worse than when they have a cold. Children with the flu are often drowsy, sleepy and inactive. In contrast, children with colds have no trouble staying active and usually do not have other symptoms such as headaches or muscle pain.
Diagnosis of flu and colds
Sometimes the symptoms of the flu and a cold can be confusing. Therefore, if the fever lasts more than 48 hours, it is important to consult a pediatrician.
In this case, the pediatrician will perform an influenza virus test. This is a rapid and very reliable test that is performed on respiratory tract secretions and serves to confirm or rule out influenza, so that unnecessary antibiotic treatment can be avoided.
What is the treatment to be followed?
There are no specific drugs to cure flu and colds. Both diseases have the same treatment, which consists of taking the appropriate medicines for fever, drinking plenty of fluids and resting.
Recommendations to prevent contagion
Both diseases are spread through the hands and the air, either by sneezing or coughing. Thus, it is essential to keep the hands clean to avoid contagion and the specific anti-flu vaccination to protect the child from flu contagion. It is also advisable to use single-use tissues, to cover the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing and to frequently ventilate the rooms where the sick person is.
Bronchiolitis: an infection of the lungs
Bronchiolitis is a lung infection that appears during the winter months and usually affects children under 2 years of age. This infection is caused by the respiratory syncytial virus, and has symptoms very similar to cold symptoms. However, in some cases these symptoms are aggravated and the bronchi become inflamed and filled with mucus.
Generally, bronchiolitis lasts for a week and, although most children recover, there are some cases that are more likely to repeat the same symptoms of bronchiolitis if they have a cold in the following months.
In any case, when the child is in a state of general malaise with respiratory symptoms, it is advisable to visit the pediatrician to rule out these diseases.